Storing Apparatus for Use with Tool Cart

ABSTRACT

A storing apparatus includes an attaching portion, a handle and at least one storing portion. The attaching portion is used for attaching the storage apparatus to a drawer of a tool cart. The handle is operable for moving the drawer. The storing portion is used for storing small stuff such as screws and nuts.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a tool cart and, more particularly, toa storing apparatus for use with a tool cart.

2. Related Prior Art

As disclosed in Taiwanese Patent M318554, a tool cart includes a frame,drawers movably connected to the frame and casters attached to theframe. Each of the drawers is equipped with a handle operable to movethe drawer.

The drawers can store tools and parts, big or small. However, the toolsand parts are stored in the drawers randomly. A user has to search anentire drawer for a desired small part such as a screw or nut, and thisis troublesome. The small parts can be stored in cases that are in turnstored in the drawers. However, these cases occupy unnecessarily largespace in the drawers.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at leastalleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a toolcart with a storing apparatus.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the storing apparatus includes anattaching portion, a handle and at least one storing portion. Theattaching portion is used for attaching the storage apparatus to adrawer of a tool cart. The handle is operable for moving the drawer. Thestoring portion is used for storing small stuff such as screws and nuts.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention willbe apparent from the following description referring to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration offour embodiments referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool cart equipped with a storingapparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drawer and the storing apparatus shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the drawer and the storingapparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial, perspective view of a drawer and a storingapparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the storing apparatus of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a drawer and a storing apparatusaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the drawer and the storing apparatusshown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a drawer and a storing apparatusaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a tool cart 10 is equipped with astoring apparatus 30 according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. The tool cart 10 includes a frame 11, casters 12 attached toa lower portion of the frame 11 and drawers 20 movably connected to theframe 11. An opening 13 is defined in a front portion of the frame 11.

As clearly shown in FIG. 3, each of the drawers 20 includes floor 21 andfour walls 22 provided on the floor 21. A front one of the walls 22 (the“front wall 22”) includes a horizontal edge 23 extending from a rearside thereof.

The storing apparatus 30 includes a curved edge 31 extending from a rearwall thereof. The curved edge 31 of the storing apparatus 30 is engagedwith horizontal edge 23 of a drawer 20 so that the storing apparatus 30is attached to the drawer 20 without occupying any space within thedrawer 20. The storing apparatus 30 can be attached to the drawer 20 byany other proper means.

The storing apparatus 30 includes a handle 40 formed between two storingportions 50. The handle 40 includes a slot 41 defined therein. A usercan insert at least one finger through the slot 41 and operate thehandle 40 to move the drawer 20.

Each of the storing portions 50 is a case which is open on an upperside. Each of the cases 50 includes a tube 54 formed thereon, near therear wall of the storing apparatus 30. A pivotal cover 51 is connectedto each of the cases 50. The pivotal cover 51 includes two tubes 52separated by a gap 53. The tube 54 is located in the gap 53, i.e.,between the tubes 52. A pin 57 is inserted in the tubes 52 and 54, thusconnecting the pivotal cover 51 to the related case 50. A rib 55 isformed on lower side of the pivotal cover 51. As the pivotal cover 51covers the related case 50, the rib 55 of the pivotal cover 51 is incontact with a front wall 22 of the related case 50 to avoid undesiredopening.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a storing apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present invention is shown. The second embodiment islike the first embodiment except that each of the cases 50 is equippedwith two sliding covers 62 instead of pivotal cover 51. Each of thecases 50 includes two tracks 61 formed on two opposite walls thereof.Each of the sliding covers 62 is engaged with both of the tracks 61 andmovable in the related case 50.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a storing apparatus according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention is shown. The third embodiment islike the first embodiment except two things. Firstly, two cells 70 areformed instead of the cases 50. The cells 70 are open on a front side. Apivotal bucket 71 is located in and connected to each of the cells 70.The pivotal bucket 71 includes two axles 72 disposed in two recessesdefined in the related cell 70, thus connecting the pivotal bucket 71 tothe related cell 70. The pivotal bucket 71 may includes two bossesdisposed in two arched grooves defined in the related cells 70, thusavoiding excessive pivoting thereof from the related cell 70. Secondly,the handle 40 is not located between the cells 70.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a storing apparatus according to afourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment islike the third embodiment except two drawers 81 instead of the pivotalbuckets 71. The drawers 81 are movable into the cells 70. Each of thedrawers 81 is formed with a handle 82 operable to move the drawer 81.

It should be noted that the pivotal covers 51, the sliding covers 62,the pivotal buckets 71 or drawers 81 can be omitted without jeopardizingthe function of the cases 50 or 70.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustrationof the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations fromthe embodiments without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of thepresent invention defined in the claims.

1. A storing apparatus comprising: an attaching portion formed thereonfor attaching the storage apparatus to a drawer of a tool cart; a handleformed thereon and operable for moving the drawer; and at least onestoring portion formed thereon for storing stuff.
 2. The storingapparatus according to claim 1 comprising at least one cover forcovering the storing portion.
 3. The storing apparatus according toclaim 2 comprising a pin, wherein the storing portion comprises a tubeformed thereon, and the cover comprises two tubes between which the tubeof the storing portion is located, and the pin is inserted in the tubesto pivotally connect the cover to the storing portion.
 4. The storingapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cover comprises a rib incontact with the storing portion for keeping the cover on the storingportion.
 5. The storing apparatus according to claim 1 comprising twosliding covers for covering the storing portion, wherein the storingportion comprises two tracks in sliding engagement with the slidingcovers.
 6. The storing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thestoring portion is a case which is open on an upper side.
 7. The storingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storing portion is a cellwhich is open on a front side.
 8. The storing apparatus according toclaim 7 comprising a bucket pivotally connected to the cell.
 9. Thestoring apparatus according to claim 7 comprising a drawer movablyconnected to the cell.
 10. The storing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the attaching portion is a curved edge for engagement with abent edge of the drawer.